Directed by Todd Levin, Static follows a married couple who are coping with the death of their three year old son. They live out in the countryside because the husband, Jonathan (Milo Ventimiglia), is a novelist working on his next book but his wife Addie (Sarah Shahi) hates it out there and the two are struggling to keep their marriage in tack.
One night a stranger named Rachel (Sara Paxton) turns up on their porch claiming that her car broke down and that men in gas masks are chasing her. Things take a turn for the worse when her claims prove to be true and she is taken. With their lives on the line, their romance is now tested and the two must work together if they want to evade capture and survive until daylight.
Static was a much different film that I was expecting. It was a dramatic horror with a very long game of cat and mouse being played by the intruders rather than being an intense home invasion thriller with more horrific consequences. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing just something to keep in mind if you ever sit down to watch the movie.
When Static ended I was slightly torn. On the one hand I liked that Todd Levin pulled a nice bait and switch, leading us into unexpected territory with a twist at the end, but at the same time I was so upset by the twist. It felt underwhelming and rather pathetic after building up all this tension just for it to lead to the eventual outcome that we witness. I honestly would have been happier with a standard horror ending where the leads would have either lived or died and that the film would have played out as a fresh take on home invasion thrillers.
Furhtermore, Sarah Shahi’s character Addie Dade may have been one of the most frustrating characters in a horror film that I’ve seen in a while. Not only was she just a pain in the ass because she wouldn’t talk about her dead son with her husband, but when their home is being invaded by these creepy people in gas masks, she isn’t careful at all. She breaks glass while trying to remain silent, she calls out her husband’s name when she is hiding even though he would have announced himself and for some reason, is unable to stay still. If someone in the movie wanted to get caught it was certainly her. It also doesn’t help that her performance was inconsistent. She was either over the top or not convincing half the time and for a dramatic horror that kind of persuasion is required to move the film along smoothly.
One of only two truly positive things I can say about Static is that it is beautifully shot. The opening scenes are easy on the eyes and as the film progresses that was the one thing that I kept commenting on in my head. This is one of those instances where seeing the film on Blu-ray helped improve the quality of the film rather than just a bonus on a film that may already have been good (think any animated film in this format).
The second positive aspect is tonally, the film is ripe with tension, not only from the creepy intruders but also between the husband and wife. I was eager to see where the film was headed and felt my body inching towards the edge of my seat as the intruders would get closer and closer to Jonathan and Addie.
The package comes with a DVD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray (it was shot in 3D). I’ve already commented on the quality of the Blu-ray but I don’t have a 3D player to watch the other disc and can’t comment on whether or not the 3D was used as a tonal tool or if it was used as a gimmick, though it doesn’t’ have many opportunities to act like one. As for the special features, the Blu-ray comes with commentary from the writer, producer and editor and that’s it. Not much for those looking to learn more about the film.
Overall, Static is a middle of the road horror that could go either way for viewers. Some may like the twists it takes and the dramatic nature of the film while others will grow tired and annoyed of the tricks it is attempting to play, ultimately leading to an ending that’ll disappoint on a variety of levels. Personally, this one just didn’t do it for me.
Rating: A nice looking, moderately tense dramatic horror that’s weakened by its ending twist (4.8/10)
Static is now available on Blu-ray in 3D, 2D, DVD, VOD and digital platforms from Cinedigm.
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